Knowledge management in graduate programs: A prescriptive model

Abstract

This research concerns Knowledge Management (KM) in the specific context of graduate-level university programs. It proposes and evaluates a theoretical model whose prescriptions allow the development and implementation of KM systems (KMS) for doctorates, masters and graduate-level specializations, taking as case studies three corresponding programs at the Simon Bolivar University of Venezuela. The research, mixed or multimethod, corresponds to a sequential exploratory design, with an initial phase of collection and analysis of qualitative data followed by another where quantitative data was also collected and analyzed. In the qualitative phase, a prescriptive theoretical model was formulated, and in the quantitative one, users of the resulting KMS were assessed by measuring four dimensions: System Acceptance, System Quality, System Utility, and User Satisfaction. The empirical results confirmed the proposed theoretical model as valid. In this way, this research contributes to reduce KM theoretical gaps in the specific context of postgraduate programs, proposes solutions to overcome the slowdown of KM initiatives, proposes a model applicable by universities, illustrates methods for the evaluation KMS in graduate programs, and contributes by showing ways advantageous to the Intellectual Capital of institutions of higher learnin.